Floods, Thunderstorms Wreak Havoc in the Balkans

Romania is still struggling with the aftermath of the torrential rains and the floods which hit the country on Tuesday and have already claimed five lives.

Some 1,200 people were evacuated from their homes due to the overflowing rivers, 2,200 houses were damaged by the floods, and 99 of them were completely destroyed, local media outlets reported.

A total of 2,200 police officers, firefighters and employees of the gendarmerie took part in the rescue operations countrywide. Romania is set for a heat wave which is expected to follow the devastating floods. Three areas in the southern part of the country remain under a state in of emergency.

Thunderstorms and gale force wind have been reported in Macedonia's Skopje, as well.

The torrential rains in Kosovo have caused damage to crops for nearly EUR 800 thousand.

Several municipalities in Serbia have been put under a state of emergency after the heavy rainfalls on Thursday night. Dozens of villages and towns are under water. According to the local authorities, however, the worst is over.

The floods in Bulgaria have claimed four lives this week only, after two people died in the northwestern region of Vratsa, and two others were found dead in a village in the Gabrovo region.